Australia has always been a sporting nation.
Whether it is rugby, football, hockey, cricket, or other sports played here, Australia has always fared well in them. It has even more than often ranked among the top 5 nations in the world in few major sports. This is an excellent achievement considering the total population of around 23 million.
Australians love to indulge in sports from an early age.
Sporting clubs and tournaments held at the grassroots level have played a great role in developing sporting competitiveness among Australians. The love for sports among adults transcends to their children, leading to high numbers of kids participating in individual or team sports every year. They are all passionate and want to excel like their sporting heroes.
Soccer has gradually become the most played team sport.
Team sports, in particular, have garnered notable popularity and participation in recent years. Surprisingly, soccer is the sport that the kids in Australia like to play the most. This definitely has to do with the rising success of both Australian men and women soccer teams in different competitions around the world.
Soccer (also known as ‘football’ in most nations) is certainly the most celebrated sport in the world and the effects have started to show in Australia as well, in terms of participation and TV viewership. In fact, according to a recent study, soccer is the only team sport other than basketball and baseball that has seen an increase of around 46% in regular participation since 2001.
Some interesting stats support the notion of kids participating in soccer the most.
A study from Roy Morgan Research confirms that soccer is the number one team sports kids take part in.
About 48.7% of Australian kids aged between 6 and 13 actively participate in soccer, while soccer also remains the most participated team sport for those aged 14 and above.
This has also resulted in the increasing popularity of the national soccer league (A-League).
Soccer is a great weekend activity.
The social aspect of the sport in Australia has also contributed to its growth. Kids and parents love to take part in weekend games and get involved in local competitions. Since soccer and 12 foot trampoline are the great form of exercise, it benefits the physical health of children and also ensures their mental conditioning.
Kids can acquire training in the sport.
Soccer is not too easy a sport to play. It requires you to be physically fit and mentally strong. Also, it involves plenty of skills. Soccer coaching is important in that regard. Kids can start with a beginner training program that will develop the right mindset and skills required to do well in the sport. This can be really fun and exciting for kids. More and more parents are now encouraging their kids to get some training that will help enhance their technical, physical, and mental capabilities.
All in all, the growing popularity in terms of participation and TV viewership indicates that the future of soccer is really bright in Australia. Kids, starting early and acquiring training in the sport, can really contribute to their personal growth as well as the nation’s future success in this competitive sport.
